Deutsche Börse has declined to comment on speculation that it is considering launching a hostile takeover bid for the London Stock Exchange, now that the LSE is officially in play after today's hostile bid from OM Gruppen.

Dr Rolf Breuer, chairman of the supervisory board of Deutsche Börse, said yesterday that the German exchange would be prepared to restructure its proposed merger with the LSE and represent it as a 'friendly takeover', as a way of beating off the bid by OM Gruppen.